Lamp socket assembly and apertured support



Oct. 23, 1951 H. J. MURPHY 2,572,813

LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND APERTURED SUPPORT Filed April 25, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR: HOWARD J. MURPHY,

BY P 2 21K C. PM

TTDRNEY- Oct. 23, 1951 H. J. MURPHY 2,572,813

LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND APERTURED SUPPORT Filed April 25, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR: HOWARD J. MURPHY,

T TO R NE-Y.

Oct. 23, 1951 H. MURPHY 2,572,813

LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND APERTURED SUPPORT Filed April 25, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet I5 \NvENToR: HOWARD J. MURPHY,

PW 6. PM!

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 23, 1951 H. J. MURPHY 2,572,813

LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY AND APERTURED SUPPORT Filed April 25, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I8.

l N VENT'OR HowAR J. MURPHY,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. '23, 1951 'UNiTED STATES PATENT oer-ice LAMP SOCKETASSEMBLY AND APERTURED SUPPORT :Howard-J. -Murphy, Lynnfield, -Massassignor to United-CarrFastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, .acorporation of Massac'huse'tts Application April 25, 1949, Serial 'No.893127 ';provement otfilamprsocketassembliesiof the turniinitype'whereinthe socket-marrying member may be readily mounted ran aperturedsupporting :member by :a-simple manipulative procedure and releasablylocked therein iby :a resilient locking member designed toyieldablyshold the socketcarrying member firmly positioned against theapertured supporting :member so @as to be substantially unafiiecited vby vibration.

A further object .of the invention is the .provision of alampsocketiassemblyhaving a resilient locking :m'ember provided withportions thereon adapted to engage 'theunder surface of anaperturedsupport'to yiel'dably hold the socket assembly firmlyithereagainst and provided with .other'portions adapted to seat innotches in the apertured support "to :releasably lock the socketassembly thereto.

A still further object of the invention is the provision ofialamp'socket assembly of the turnvin type provided withaisocketmarrying member and a resilientilocking member wherein theresilient locking 'member is held in assembled relationship with thesocket-carrying member by an apertured ring member provided within'turned spring fingers adapted to position the assembly in an'apertured support.

Another object-of the invention is the improvement of lamp socket:assemblies of the turn-in type having a socket-carrying member whereinthe socket-carrying member is provided with a wingnut construction tofacilitate mounting the assembly in an apertured support.

Still another object of the invention is -the provisionof a lamp socketassembly having outwardly extendinginturn'ed spring fingersadapted toposition the assembly in an-apertured support and a resilientlockingringhaving portions thereof yieldably engagingopposite sides ofthe flanged support to releasably secure '.the socket assembly :thereto.

A further object of the invention is the provision of :a supportingisleeve membera'dapted to :be attached to an apertured supportrandcarrying a "lamp socket :assembly of the turn-in type releasably lockedin one end thereof.

"The above :and other objects 'and -advantages of the invention will beapparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relatesfrom :aconsideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed'specification illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings? Fig. 1 is a side view 10f -the=uni-tary socket-assembly according to the present invention =mounted in a supportingbase .member;

Fig. '2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 .of Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is an end "-view of the supporting -base member;

s ip;

Fig. -9 is zagplan view of the fastening-and positioning member;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the fastening and ,ipositioning member lookingfrom the :left in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is arside view of the fastening and positioning 'member lookingfrom the top in Fig. -9;

Fig. 12 is a plan-view of the tensioning and ring;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the tensioning and. locking ring looking from--the .left .in Fig. 12;

:Fig. 1.4 :is a side view of the tension-mg and "locking rring lookingfrom the top in :Fig. 12;

the body portion 9 of the carrier prises a ring portion 22 provided 1engage the inner edge of 3 19, showing the unitary socket assembly inposition for insertion into the aperture of the support;

Fig. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 2 |-2| of Fig.19;

Fig. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on the line 22-22 ofFig. 19;

Fig. 23 is a partial cross-sectional on line 23-23 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 24 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 24--24 of Fig.20; and

Fig. 25 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 25-25 of Fig.20.

Referring now to the drawings, the improved socket assembly of thepresent invention comprises a unitary socket assembly I adapted to bereleasably locked in a supporting base member 2 having a flanged portion3 for attachment to an apertured support S or the like as by the studs4. The supporting base member 2 may desirably be formed with asupporting sleeve 5 adated to receive the socket assembly I, and havingan inturned flange 5 provided with radial recesses or notches 1 adaptedto releasably receive and hold the socket assembly in locked position inthe sleeve. It will be apparent that the assembled device may readily beinstalled on the dash or instrument panel or other panel or support ofan automobile or other machine to provide a protected lamp socketassembly substantially unaifected by vibration.

The unitary socket assembly comprises a carrier or manipulative handlingpart 8 provided with a substantially cylindrical body portion 9 adaptedto snugly receive a lamp socket l9 and a base portion adapted to seat aresilient tensioning and locking ring l2 and a carrier fastening andpositioning member |3, and having an upturned flange adapted to beturned inwardly and downwardly over the outer edges of the member l3 tosecurely hold it in place. The substantially cylindrical portion 9 ofthe carrier 8 has laterally extending flattened portions l5 and I6providing a wing nut effect to facilitate manual manipulation of thesocket assembly I when mounting it in the supporting base member 2.

The lamp socket view taken l0 may have a press fit with 8 and is adaptedto support therein a contact-carrying plug of insulating material suchas Bakelite or the like (not shown) with the portion thereof carryingthe lead wires projecting through the opening l8 in the end of the bodyportion 9. Indentations H! in the socket H! assist in retaining theBakelite plug in position therein. The portion of the socket l0projecting from the carrier 8 is adapted to receive an electric lightbulb or lamp of well known construction and may be provided with theusual outwardly grooved portions and 2| for cooperation with the usualpins on the lamp base to releasably lock it in position.

The fastening and positioning member |3 comwith laterally extendinginturned spring fingers 23 adapted to the opening defined by the flangedportion 6 and thus position the unitary socket assembly I in thesupportin base member 2. The ring portion 22 is adapted to be seated onthe base portion H of the carrier 8, as pointed out above, and to beclamped therea on by the flange I4 being turned inwardly thereover. Themember I3 is further provided with openings 24, 25, 26 and 21,,whichextend outopenings wardly into the ring portion 22 and upwardly into thespring fingers 23 for receiving the ears 29, 30, 3| and 32 of theresilient tensioning and locking ring I2.

The openings 26 and 21 extend upwardly into the sprin fingers 23 to adepth suflicient to permit the ears 3| and 32 of the ring |2 to besprung outwardly from the base into sliding engagement with the innersurface of the flange 6 of the supporting base member 2.v The ears 29and 30 are confined rather closely to the base member by the moreshallow openings 24 and 25 in the spring fingers 23 and are placed undertension when the ears 3| and 32 are sprung outwardly as aforesaid. Thisurges and hence the members 8 and I3 into firm engagement with the outersurface of the flange 6 and securely holds the parts in assembledrelationship substantially unaffected by any vibration to which it maybe subjected.

The tensioning and positioning ring l2 may desirably be made ofresilient material such as spring metal or the like and is preferablybent or otherwise deformed so that the ears 3| and 32 are ofisetlaterally with respect to the cars 29 and 30. Thus when the ring I2 isassembled with the carrier 8 and member l3 with the ring portion 28thereof positioned inwardly of the member IS, the ears 3| and 32 will bespaced normally outwardly somewhat from the base portion II. Thisconstruction plus the outwardly curved shape of the edges 33 of the ears3| and 32 facilitates engagement of the ears 3| and 32 with the innersurface of the flange 6 when the unitary lamp socket assembly is mountedon the supporting base member 2.

The ears 29 and may desirably be offset slightly from the ring portion28 by bending or the like so that the outer surfaces thereof willproject beyond the inturned flange I4 and have a resilient bearingcontact with the outer surface of the flange 6. The ears 2!! and 30 mayfurther desirably have one edge thereof turned inwardly toward and thenoutwardly in the plane of the ring portion 28, as shown at 34 and 35, tofacilitate removal of the unitary socket assembly 1 from lookingengagement with the supporting base member 2 as will be apparenthereinafter.

In assembling the device of Figs. 1 to 14, the lamp socket ID, with orwithout a suitable contact plug mounted therein, is forced into thecylindrical body portion 9 to form a press flt therewith. Thepositioning member l3 and locking ring l2 are then mounted on the baseportion H with the ears 23 and 3|] positioned in the 24 and 25, and theears 3| and 32 positioned in the openings 25 and 21. The flange I4 isthen turned inwardly over the ring portion 22 to hold the members l2 andI3 in assembled relationship. When so assembled, the ears 29 and 3|] areheld closely adjacent the base with the offset body portion thereofslightly spaced from the base and projecting slightly beyond the flange[4 to form a bearing surface with the outer edge of the flange B andwith the inturned edges 34 and 35 thereof in contact with the base i! tofacilitate the unlocking operation. The ears 3| and 32 are spacedoutwardly from the base portion sufficiently so that the curved edges 33thereof may engage the edges of the notches l to spring the ears 3| and32 outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the flange 6 whenthe socket is rotated.

In mounting the unitary socket assembly I on the supporting base member2, as shown in dethe ears 29 and amers tail in Figs. 18 through '25, theassembly :I :is

lgraspedibyuthe wing nut portions 1:5 and ..!B,'rand -.in a clock-wisedirection .until ithe ears 3i and .32 :are positioned beneathitheiflange 6, see Eigs. 19 .and .21, this operation .being facilitatedas "hereinbefore stated, by the curved edges .33 of the ears 3] and 32striking ithe-edgesrof notches 1 when the'assembly is ..''rotated, lthus:iorcing the ears 3| and .32 outwardly in -theopeningsfls and "2! andaway-from the base portion l against :the spring action of the .ringportion 28 so that they may slide :into position behind .the flange 6.When so assembled, the inherent resiliency of the locking ring 12 .urgesthe ears 29 and -3B towards the ears'3l and :32 so that the flange 45.of the supporting :base :member '2 is firmly gripped therebetween tosecurely hold the parts in assembled relationship with the lampreceiving socket I-O positioned within the sleeve 5. At the same timethe:carrier;8and-member 1 3 are firmly held-againstthe flange by v-irtueo'f the .coaction between :the cars "29 and iii) and the shallowopenings 24 and '25 in the spring fingers '23. The socket assembly 'Imay be quickly and easily-removed from the supporting base member 2merely by rotating it in a "left-hand or counterclockwise"directionuntil the ears '3! and :32 enter the notches and then pulling outwardly.

A further -feature of this invention resides in a releasable lookingaction which is obtained by mounting the socketassembly l :on thesupport- .ing base member 2, as aforesaid, and then rotating itclockwise through a quarter turn or until the cars 29 and 30 arepositioned opposite "the notches "I. When this happens, -the-='irrheren.t resiliency of the ring .I'2 and the pull exerted by theears 3] and 32 causes "the ears 29 and 3i] .to snap into the notches 1thereby to lock releasably the assembly imposition. 'W'hen itisdesiredto :release the socket assembly from locked position, it is merelynecessary to turn it counterclockwise through a quarter turn and thenremove it as before. counterclockwise rotation from locked position isfacilitated by the inwardly turned edges 34 and 35-01 the. ears "29 and30 whichrideoutwardly over thee'dges of notches 1 to position a ainstthe cars 29 and 3t] on the outersurface of the fiangeifi. JZt-Wiil beapparent that in the locked positionojf the assembly just described thepositioning of :the ears 3;! and 32 of the resilient ring I2 on ,theinner sideiofxfl-ange [4 serves to draw the assembly into close contactwith the supporting base member and to securely hold it there.

In a modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 15 to 1'7, thecarrier 40 has a substantially cylindrical portion 4| adapted to snuglyreceive the socket 42 and a flanged portion 43 adapted to seat thefastening and positioning member 44 and the tensioning and locking ring45. A lip 46 on the flanged portion 43 is adapted to be turned inwardlyover the rim of the member 44 to clamp the parts in assembledrelationship. The carrier 40 further has an end portion 46 which may beremovable if desired, for receiving a plug of Bakelite or the likecontaining the lead-in wires and contacts for the lamp-receiving socket42.

"The fastening .:and :positioning member 144 "has airing portion 41,inwardly turned spring fingers 48, 49, 53 and 35.1, and openings 52,'53, :54 and .55 similar to the member i3 hereinbefore ,described.Member :4 is additionally provided with .outwardlyextending ears 56fandilgl having :downturned flaps 258 .and e59. When -:the device .isassembled, the cars 56 and 57 :araturned downwardly, has shown Ein Fig.15, 5130 form fingerengaging ,grips adapted to facilitate manipulativehandling of the device during .assemblywith or .disassembly :from anapertu-red support.

The tensioning and locking ring 45 functions similarly to .theiring .12hereinbefore described *but differs therefrom structurally in thattheea-rs .50 and BI are bent elaterally-outof the plancofthe ringportiontfiZ to-form cam surfaces ,63 and 614, and the ears .65 .and :53are provided with upturned locking slugs t6? and :68 having taperededges 69 and The device of Figs. -15ito I7 is assembled similarly ;tothe device of Figs. :1 to 14 with :the ears .60 and 6 :positioned iilthe-openings5'3 and55 and :the ears 65 and 1% positioned in the openings1'52 and .54.

In mountingthe device .on a supporting base member such as thatpreviously described, the earsrefl and iii! arepositionecl in thenotchesand the assembly rotated by means of the ;-fing er-engaging portions :56and 5t. Ibis-causes the-cam surfacese 3 and 164 1:0 contact the edges 1of 11101301168 2 so that the tears .60 and .lil ride outwardly thereoverand iil'ltOilOCklIlg'pQSitlOll on theinner surface of'ithe flange 6. Atthe same time. the locking lugs 61 and .68 .are'in contact w th theouter surface :of the flange '6, thereby ;securing the assembly to theflange. Rotation of the socket assembly through a quarter-turn positionsthe locking lugs .61 and :68 in the notches 7 to leasably lock theassembly LOn'EthesuppOrting base member as before. Removal of the-socketassembly is readily accomplished by rotating it .;one quarter turn in aleft-hand or :counterolock rise direction, the tapered edges B9 and I8actin as camsto facilitate removal of :the locking lugsfi'i and 68 fromthe notches 1.

It will thus be seen "that :this invention ,provides improved :socketassemblies :for automobile lighting and the like =whicha-re simple :in*construction, easy to assemble and install :and :are

securely heldin place substantially .unaiieotedrby vibration.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred construction, itdo not intend'to be limited :to the precise details thereof as the scopeof the :invention is best sdefin'ed =i-n the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A socket assembly adapted :to be "mounted in an apertured supportcomprising 52. canrier member provided with a socket-receiving portion,a positioning member secured to said carrier member and having apositioning element extending outwardly therefrom providing surfaces forradially and circumferentially spaced relationship about a socketdisposed in said socketreceiving portion for engaging the edges of anaperture in a support during the mounting of the socket assembly in suchan apertured support, said positioning element having aperturesextending through said surfaces, and a ring member associated with saidcarrier member having projections extending radially outward therefromthrough said apertures.-

2. A socket assembly adapted to be mounted in an apertured supportcomprising a carrier 7 member provided with a socket-receiving portionand an outwardly extending annular flange, a flange member secured tosaid annular flange and having positioning elements extending outwardlytherefrom providing surfaces for radially and circumferentially spacedrelationship about a socket disposed in said socket-receiving portionfor engaging the edges of an aperture in a support during the mountingof the socket assembly upon such an apertured support, said positioningelements having apertures extending through said surfaces, and a ringmember associated with said carrier member having projections extendingradially outward therefrom through said apertures.

3. A socket assembly adapted to be mounted in an apertured supportcomprising a carrier member provided with a socket-receiving portion, afastening and positioning member secured to said carrier member andcomprising a flat ring portion provided with inturned spring fingersextending outwardly from the inner edge of said ring portion andproviding surfaces for radially and circumferentially spacedrelationship about a socket disposed in said socket-receiving por-i;tion for engaging the edge of an aperture in a support during themounting of the socket assembly upon such an apertured support, saidspring fingers having apertures therethrough communicating with spacedapertures in said ring portion, and a resilient ring member having earsthereon extending radially outward through the apertures in said springfingers into the apertures in said ring portion.

4. A socket assembly in accordance with claim 3 having lateralextensions on the socket-receiving portion of said carrier member givinga wing nut effect to facilitate mounting the assembly in an aperturedsupport.

5. A unitary socket assembly as set forth in claim 3 in which theresilient ring member is laterally bent to offset some of the ears withrespect to other ears, the offset ears having at least one edge thereofcurved to facilitate mounting on an apertured support.

6. A unitary socket assembly as set forth in claim 5 in which the earswhich are not offset have portions thereof bent outwardly from the planeof the ring for locking engagement with an apertured support and otherportions thereof 1 curved to facilitate disengagement from saidapertured support.

7. A unitary socket assembly as set forth in claim 3 in which some ofthe said ears and the adjoining ring portions are laterally bent out of.the plane of the ring to form cam surfaces adapted to facilitatemounting the assembly on an apertured support.

8. A unitary socket assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which some ofthe ears are provided with laterally extending locking lugs adapted forlocking engagement with an apertured support, said locking lugs havingtapered edges to facilitate removal of the assembly from the aperturedsupport.

9. A socket assembly adapted to be mounted on an apertured supportcomprising a carrier member provided with a socket-receiving portionhaving a socket mounted therein, a flanged member secured to saidcarrier member and carrying inturned spring fingers provided withapertures, a resilient ring member mounted within said flanged memberand having ears thereon extending through said apertures, said ringmember having a permanent set therein whereby some of said ears areoffset with respect to other ears, a supporting base member having aninturned flange provided with radial notches, said ofiset ears beingadapted to be positioned in said radial notches and then rotated intoclamping engagement with the inner side of said flange, to therebysecure the socket assembly to said supporting member.

10. A socket assembly adapted to be mounted on an apertured supportcomprising a socketcarrying member, a flanged member secured to saidsocket-carrying member and having inturned spring fingers extendingoutwardly therefrom for positioning the assembly in an aperturedsupport, said inturned spring fingers having openings therethrough, aresilient ring member mounted on said socket-carrying member and havingears thereon extending through said apertures, certain of said aperturebeing relatively deep to permit movement of the ears therein away fromsaid socket-carrying member for locking engagement with an aperturedsupport, others of said apertures being relatively shallow to confinethe ears therein closely adjacent the socket-carrying member, wherebymovement of the ears in such relatively deep apertures into lockingengagement with an apertured support places the ears in said shallow'apertures under tension to firmly hold the assembly against theapertured support.

HOWARD J. MURPHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,540,112 Douglas June 2', 19251,803,709 Johnson May 5, 1931 2,278,385 Watts Mar. 31, 1942 2,357,955Johnson Sept. 12, 1944 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,572,813October 23, 1951 HOWARD J. MURPHY It is hereby certified that errorappears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows:

Column 2, line 35, after and insert locking; column 8, line 1, for theclaim reference numeral 6 read 7 and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssioner of Patents.

